There was a train of thought earlier this season that Viktor Arvidsson had softened a little bit.

After a breakout 2016-17 campaign when he scored a career-high 31 goals and helped the Nashville Predators reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time, Arvidsson cashed in with a seven-year contract averaging $4.25 million a season.

When Arvidsson's production didn't always seem commensurate with his new deal, some wondered if the big money had made him a bit reluctant to venture into the tough areas a goal scorer has to inhabit.